Eat and drive: Forza 5, Ridge Racer Slipstream and URP! review

Jan. 21, 2014

Turn 10's popular racing sim series speeds into the next generation of gaming with Forza Motorsports 5 for the Xbox One.

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FORZA 5 SOLID BUT SPINS WHEELS OFF STARTING LINE

This is for all the players who drive like a maniac in Forza Motorsport 5.

I hate you. I hate each and every single one of you.

Then again, given how I let my little cousin play the game with my profile for several days, a lot of online folks probably hate me now, too. See, with the game using “Drivatar” AI based on the driving style of actual players, I’ve seen an exponential rise in aggressive AI drivers who take curves late and bounce off other cars to make their turns. It’s actually a nice addition that makes non-human competitors feel less robotic than typical driving game AI. They also get quite good at higher difficulties.

Turn 10’s first crack at a next-gen racer for the Xbox One, Forza maintains the great driving mechanics of the series while adding a new coat of paint via gorgeous graphics. This means customizable options that cater to both newbies and experts with optional driving assists. The game’s excellent paint editor also returns, allowing talented players to produce some jaw-dropping designs. In fact, I tend to spend more time painting cars than racing.

Downsides include a more limited selection of tracks and cars compared to Forza 4 and a lack of weather and night driving. Microtransactions also are expensive and pervasive enough to slap you in the face. Overall, Forza 5 feels more like a debut title than a sequel in the series. It’s like a car with a great engine but also a less luxurious interior and fewer options.

RIDGE RACER SLIPSTREAM DRIFTS INTO MOBILE DEVICES

Hey look, it’s Riiiiiiiiiiiidge Racer!

For folks who remember the heyday of Namco’s System 22 arcade board and the original PlayStation, Ridge Racer was one of the big names in arcade racing. Fast forward to the present and the venerable racing title has since lost its crown to more realistic racing sims Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Nowadays, Ridge Racer is known more for being part of an uncomfortably hilarious E3 press conference that also featured a “historically accurate” giant enemy crab that could be hit for massive damage. It’s a shame, really, as the classic Ridge Racer games were quite fun. Even the recent PS4 launch came without a Ridge Racer game, the first time a PlayStation console launched without a title from the series. Instead, Ridge Racer hits the mobile space with “Ridge Racer Slipstream” for iOS and Android devices.

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Although this likely isn’t the Ridge Racer game that will whet fans’ appetites, the good news is that it’s actually pretty solid for a mobile game. The game offers a wide range of control options that cater to both casual and more hardcore gamers. The racing itself is quite fun, featuring the series’ trademark drifts, which can be used to charge a nitrous bar. A new “Slipstream” drafting mechanic also helps players gain speed. Car and track counts, sadly, are on the low side. Acquiring resources is also a painstaking grind, something made even more apparent by the game’s microtransactions.

Although not as good as a console Ridge Racer, it’s still one of the better racing apps I’ve played.

Cost:$2.99, iOS and Android

MADE IN RENO: SAVE WORLDS, GOBBLE STUFF IN URP! APP

Casual vs. hardcore gaming.

As far as debate topics go, it’s like the 80-pound, soaking-wet gorilla in the annual Pocket Protector Geek Olympics. Then you have folks like the guys at Crazy Tooth Studio in Reno, who apparently prefer to view themselves as lovers, not fighters. Their solution to the problem: Why not combine both? The result is their new app “URP!” — a game that combines casual puzzle elements with more old-school platforming a la Mario. Kumbaya time, everyone!

In URP!, you play the role of a blue dinosaur-like alien with a healthy appetite who tries to collect eggs and coins while triggering switches in order to save several worlds from destruction. Things aren’t as simple as they seem, however, as you’ll need to navigate tricky platforms in your quest to make worlds as stable as my rock-solid emotional state. I’m well adjusted, baby.

The game uses a unique presentation that has you traipsing through circular stages that start off so easy, you’ll think you’re the second coming of Albert Einstein. Things get progressively tougher as you advance, however, especially if you want to get perfect ratings in each stage. Mechanics are actually pretty solid and the ability to customize your alien with outfits that boost your skills is a nice plus. As with touchscreen games that use virtual controls, however, accuracy can be an issue compared to physical buttons. It also has microtransactions, though they’re not necessary to enjoy the game. If you’re looking for a casual puzzle game with an old-school touch, give URP! a bite.